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jueves, 16 de abril de 2020

The Alvarado Score

Overall, the Alvarado score by itself is most definitive at the extremes of its values. A very low Alvarado score is quite sensitive to rule out appendicitis, meaning the clinician may be able to forgo imaging, as it is unlikely to show appendicitis in these cases. A very high Alvarado score is relatively specific for appendicitis, and it may be appropriate to proceed to surgical consultation without obtaining CT or other diagnostic imaging if one’s suspicion is high enough. The “gray area” of the Alvarado score is equivocal and requires further diagnostic studies, such as CT or ultrasound, to determine whether appendicitis is present. Though an experienced clinician’s clinical gestalt may be just as good or better than the Alvarado score at determining the likelihood of appendicitis, the score can help more novice clinicians stratify the risk of appendicitis in certain patient populations."